THE CANTERBURY PUZZLES
into tnree pieces that shall fit together and make one whole piece
in shape of a perfect square.
" Moreover, since there be divers ways of so doing, I do wish to know
that way wherein two of the pieces shall together contain as much
as possible of the rich fabric." It is clear that the Tapiser intended
the cuts to be made along the lines dividing the squares only, and,
as the material was not both sides alike, no piece may be reversed,
but care must be observed that the chequered pattern matches
properly.
9.—
The Carpenter's Puzzle.
The Carpenter produced the carved wooden pillar that he is seen
holding in the illustration, wherein the knight is propounding his
knotty problem to the goodly company (No. 4), and spoke as follows :
" There dwelleth in the city of London a certain scholar that is
learned in astrology and other strange arts. Some few days gone he
did bring unto me a piece of wood that had three feet in length, one
foot in breadth and one foot in depth, and did desire that it be carved
and made into the pillar that you do now behold. Also did he
promise certain payment for every cubic inch of wood cut away
by the carving thereof.
" Now I did at first weigh the block and found it truly to contain
thirty pounds, whereas the pillar doth now weigh but twenty pounds.
Of a truth I have therefore cut away one cubic foot (which is
to say one-third) of the three cubic feet of the block, but
this scholar withal doth hold that payment may not thus be fairly
made by weight, since the heart of the block may be heavier, or
perchance may be more light, than the outside. How then may
I with ease satisfy the scholar as to the quantity of wood that hath
been cut away ? " This at first sight looks a difficult question, but
it is so absurdly simple that the method employed by the carpenter
should be known to everybody to-day, for it is a very useful little
" wrinkle."
10.—
The Puzzle of the Squire's Yeoman.
Chaucer says of the Squire's Yeoman, who formed one of his party
of pilgrims, " a forester was he truly as I guess," and tells us that
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